EAST LANSING – It almost reads unlike any depth chart in Mark Dantonio’s first 10 seasons at Michigan State .

A freshman here. A sophomore or redshirt freshman there.

It’s something Dantonio touched upon throughout the summer and the Spartans’ first four weeks of practice. They have an extremely young roster, and a lof of them are going to play this season.

“You know, I glanced down at it,” Dantonio said Tuesday, “and the future looks very, very bright.”

Whether promise and potential can become production remains to be seen.

The Spartans have 22 redshirt or true freshmen listed on the depth chart for Saturday’s season-opener against Bowling Green (noon, ESPNU). They also have 14 second- or third-year sophomores, six projected as starters on defense and five on offense.

“It’s been fun preparing for your first college game,” said freshman cornerback Josiah Scott, who is pushing for a starting job this week. “You’ve dreamed about this ever since you were in high school. It’ll be my turn to play Saturday, and it’s finally here.”

It’s a huge variance from the past four seasons, when the Spartans had veteran players on at least one side of the ball.

In 2012, the offense was inexperienced and struggled while the defense dominated opponents. In 2013, both sides – especially along the offensive and defensive lines – proved themselves and grew through the struggles of 2012, when MSU finished 7-6. Then in 2014 and ’15, the Spartans interspersed a few young players with returning Rose Bowl champions to produce two more strong seasons.

Dantonio pointed to MSU’s 2010 Big Ten title team as the last time he’s had this much inexperience. He said he expects a number of true freshmen to travel to road games this season “not really by necessity” but because they are among the best at their position and earning their shot.

“Our entire second unit of our defense in 2010 were true freshmen or redshirt-freshmen. And you see the result of that a number of years later,” Dantonio said. “That's a positive thing in some ways, it's a negative thing – depends how you look at it. As long as your freshmen are playing well, it's a very positive thing. I think that's been the case in camp.

“Now, like I told them today, games are different. Games are a little bit -- there's more pressure. People watching you. There's a little bit of a crowd out there. It's different, but they'll get used to that. It's still football, and they've got to still make plays on the field.”

Last year’s team also returned some experience, especially on defense, but a glut of offseason transfers and early-fall injuries forced MSU to play nine true freshmen and a number of second-year players into duty. A total of 13 underclassmen from 2016 are now gone, including five of those who played as first-year freshmen.

Dantonio has said throughout this camp that younger players tend to mature more rapidly during a season when they play early, with experience as their guide.

The defensive line lost two players to dismissal and has three sophomores in starting roles: Kenny Willekes at defensive end and tackles Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams inside.

MSU’s offensive line features sophomores Cole Chewins and Tyler Higby on the left side and redshirt freshman Luke Campbell at right tackle. Behind them on the depth chart are true freshmen Kevin Jarvis, Jordan Reid and Mustafa Khaleefah, as well as redshirt freshman Matt Allen.

“They’ve got some youth that they’re concerned about on the offensive line,” Bowling Green coach Mike Jinks said. “But they look the part, and those guys do a great job of coming downhill.”

The unit will be protecting sophomore quarterback Brian LewerkeAll seven of his top targets at wide receiver are in their third year or less at MSU.

Coaches know young players requires them to teach and encourage more than they do with a veteran squad.

“You tell them, ‘You’re good.’ You tell them, ‘This is what you’ve played since you were knee high to a grasshopper’s behind. This is what you’ve done, so go out there and enjoy it,’ ” said wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel, who has six of his top seven wideouts who are sophomores or younger. “You gotta make them relax. If you can’t relax and make a decision, then you’re going to play slow. It’s not about making them tight, it’s about making them feel comfortable and confident to go out there and express themselves.”